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N, PETES. PIlOTO-LITHDGRAPNER. WASHINGTON. D, CV

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISRAEL S. REEVES, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, lASSIGNOR TO I. B. SLAWSON, OF SAME PLAGE.

OMNIBUS FARE-BOX.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 19,471, dated February 23, 1858; Reissued August To all whom 'it 'ma/y concern:

Be it known that I, ISRAEL S. REEVES, of the city of New Orleans, parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, have made a new and useful Improvement in Boxes in I/Vhich Passengers Put Their Fare in Omnibuses; and I hereby declare the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of references marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The same letters used in designating the same parts are shown by the different figures.

The usual mode of taking the fare by the driver where all the funds received is put in a box which he has access to continuously; and the amount of fare received depending on his honesty to account for, has been supposed to drain largely on the proprietor there being heretofore no positive Ifneans of knowing the amount received as are.

In the application of this improvement, as the entire receiver of all the fare, either tickets or coin, the system of collecting fare is so changed as to have tangible evidence of the numbers of fares paid; all fare being put in this box by the passengers; and it not being accessible; only the person who carries the key of it, (and whose duty is to keep the drivers regulated at the end of their route, as regards the time of starting, supplying them4 with tickets, and small coin to make change as they receive it,) can have access to the box. This person which I will call the starter.

The driver has a box in which he keeps tickets for sale by the package, and small coin to make change, which is furnished him by the starter, andv who charges him with the same. Suppose the number of packages is ten, and the value of each sixty cents; the driver on this account is responsible for six dollars, and with this he receives five dollars in small coins making the amount eleven dollars, which as he is made responsible for, his own property. He puts this in his box; and is the vender of tickets by the package, and a maker of change, so those who require it can pay their fare when he exchanges money, say one half dollar, he hands back to the passenger the same value in small coin so the fare can be paid. This changing does not add, or diminish his five dollars; when he sells tickets the amount received he puts in his box and instead of the tickets sold. This selling keeps his six dollars of same value, and as additions in tickets is required, he hands the starter the value of those sold, and receives more in their place. The same when his small coin is exhausted the starter gives him this for the money he has taken in changing.

This improved `box is attached to the front part of the omnibus, near the driver, but in the inside so the passengers can put their fare in, and the driver can see this done; also detect errors made, it being his duty to see the fare is paid when a passenger gets in before starting.

The general arrangement of the operation can be more satisfactorily explained by reference to the respective figures.

Figure 1 sectional side view-the dividing line at (z) as seen by Figs. 2 and 3. The parts marked are parts of the box being the frame of the same; (a) the opening in which the fare is put-the same falls into the chamber This chamber has glass sides seen by z' and f, through which the fare can be examined to show its correctness before allowed to pass into the drawer (al), through the opening (Q -(mf) a movable table, which is the base of the chamber (b), actuated on by the spring (o) to hold the end of (m) against the glass plate (20) angular table permanently situated, one end of which makes the side of the openings (c). In (p) is placed the spring (o) to move (m), which is guided by the ledges (n), so (m) can move on (p) asa sliding lid. a strap attached to (m), by which the driver can draw (m) back, and open the communication from to the drawer, for the fare to pass.

The glass plates and f) which form the sides of the chamber (b) together with the sliding receiving table (m), are so arranged in connection with each other as to support or retain the piece of money, deposited in it, in an upright position, that is -to say, on its edge, so as to be easily distinguished either by the driver or passenger depositing it, thereby preventing mistakes; and which also from its position enables the driver effectually to deposit it in the boX, by simply withdrawing the sliding table (m) from under it, as it cannot possibly accompany the latter in its movement because of the resistance of the inner glass side.

On the drawer I have two locks, one a common drawer lock, and over this a plate having mortises to go over the small eye bolts attached to the plate of the inside lock so a second lock can be placed, this being no part of the novelty, and discretionary in the application.

Fig. 2, top view showing the general arrangement; in this view the plate is not seen, as it is concealed by the iframe of the box, is seen, top and side as standing in an angular position. (a) the opening to put in fare. (7L) the frame of the box. (m) movable table mounted on (p) and retained in position by ledges strap by which the driver moves m). ('v) a groove made on the top of the boX, also shown in Fig. l, for the purpose of placing a card with letters on, pay fare in this box: as seen above Fig. 3, so the passengers can know where their fare has to be put; and that the driver receives no fare.

Fig. -this is a front View showing only the appearance of the boX as I construct it, the glass plate seen front view the same letters show here, indicating the same parts already referred to in the foregoing ligures.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- The glass plates and f) as arranged. in connection with the sliding table the whole being operated in the manner ubsantially as and for the purposes set ort I. S. REEVES.

Signed in presence of- C. M. BRADFORD, E. CANNON.

[FIRST PRINTED 1911.] 

